Fans go wild for Micah Parsons Green Bay debut

Fans welcome Micah Parsons onto the field for his first snap as a Green Bay Packers with energetic cheers that filled Lambeau Field.

His first game post-trade from the Dallas Cowboys was anticipated, despite the former Penn State linebacker listed as questionable ahead of Sunday. While his back left him out for six months without a real, full practice, he had limited participation before Week 1's kickoff. This was enough for the Packers to roll him out in the rotation fluidly. Green Bay told CBS Sports that it planned on easing him into the action, since keeping him off the field entirely would be nearly impossible as Parsons was itching to play after an emotional rollercoaster of an offseason.

There was no rust Parsons needed to shake off. He added another explosive, disruptive element to an already-dominant Green Bay defense.

"The second most important [player] is the guy who affects the quarterback," CBS Sports' Tony Romo said on the broadcast. "And [Parsons] is that guy."

With four minutes left of the fourth quarter and the Packers defensive line squeezing the pocket, Parsons stalked Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff as he escaped for one of the first times on Sunday trying to survey his options down the field. The former Dallas Cowboy was right on his heels, though, and Goff had no time to feel safe. After an evening of applying pressure, Parsons finally tallied his first sack and took the Lion down.

Earlier in the second half, Detroit was planted at its own one-yard line. With Parsons, Rashan Gary, Edgerrin Cooper, Lukas Van Ness, and Quay Walker among other talented defensemen, the Lions had no choice but to pick their poison. It wasn't the first time they double-teamed Parsons, and they learned before that allotting two for one allowed Gary on the other end to apply that pressure. If they didn't double-team Parsons, though, it was nothing but trouble for Goff.

It was a lose-lose situation and Detroit couldn't breathe.

After the first half, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said having Parsons get into the backfield and apply pressure at the speed he does is impactful. It allows other defensive linemen to follow suit and Goff to force mistakes abruptly.

In the second quarter, Parsons closed that pocket quickly and Goff had to frantically find his target and get the ball out before he was sacked or his pass was deflected. The defensive pressure forced him to throw without logic to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and safety Evan Williams got in between to make the interception.

Green Bay won the season opener 27-13.